Power distribution unit and alarm method applied in the same

ABSTRACT

A power distribution unit including a base, at least one socket, at least one detecting unit and a management unit is provided. The socket is disposed at the base and has at least one power end and a ground end. The detecting unit is disposed at the base. When a plug is disposed at the socket, the detecting unit outputs an alarm signal if the plug is electrically connected to the power end of the socket but the plug is not electrically connected to the ground end of the socket. The management unit is electrically connected to the detecting unit and performs a predetermined operation in response to the alarm signal.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is a continuation patent application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/746,983, filed Jun. 23, 2015, titled “PowerDistribution Unit And Alarm Method Applied In The Same”, which is herebyincorporated by reference, and which claims the benefit of priority fromTaiwan Patent Application 103122054 filed on Jun. 24, 2014, which isincorporated herein by reference and assigned to the assignee herein.

BACKGROUND

The present embodiments relates to a power distribution unit and inparticular, to an alarm method applied in the power distribution unit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

For the existing power distribution unit (also called PDU), please referto IBM's power distribution unit products, such as PDU+.

In general, a power distribution unit is provided with an external cableto be electrically connected to a fixed power, e.g. a voltage source of110 V or 220 V. In addition, the power distribution unit is usuallyprovided with a plurality of sockets such that plugs of variouselectronic devices can be inserted in the sockets and the requiredelectricity power can be provided to each of the electronic devices.

However, in some cases, the plug of an electronic device is not providedwith a ground end, or the ground end is often deliberately removed by auser. Therefore, if a plug of an electronic device which does not have aground end is used to be inserted into a socket of a power distributionunit, when encountering a high voltage injection due to lightning,voltage surges or unintentional voltage contact, the electronic devicecannot be protected by means of the overvoltage protection such thatsparks can easily occur as the plug is inserted in or removed from thesocket. Furthermore, in case of voltage instability, the electronicdevice is likely to be damaged due to voltage surges, and results in anelectric shock to a user due to electrical leakage.

SUMMARY

The present embodiments include a power distribution unit and a methodfor applying an alarm to the power distribution unit.

A method is applied in a power distribution unit. The method includesdetermining an electrical connection between a plug disposed at a socketof the power distribution unit and a power end of the socket. Inaddition, the electrical connection between the plug and a ground end ofthe socket is determined, and more specifically if the plug iselectrically connected to the power end of the socket. An alarm signalis generated if the plug is not electrically connected to the ground endof the socket, and a predetermined operation is performed in response tothe alarm signal.

These and other features and advantages will become apparent from thefollowing detailed description of the presently preferred embodiment(s),taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the advantages of the embodiments will be readilyunderstood, a more particular description of the embodiments brieflydescribed above will be rendered by reference to specific embodimentsthat are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that thesedrawings depict only typical embodiments and are not therefore to beconsidered to be limiting of its scope, the embodiments will bedescribed and explained with additional specificity and detail throughthe use of the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 depicts a a schematic diagram of a power distribution unitaccording to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 depicts a schematic diagram showing the sockets of the powerdistribution unit where the plugs are inserted according to anembodiment.

FIG. 3 depicts a flowchart illustrating the alarm method applied in thepower distribution unit according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, the present embodiments will be described in more detailwith reference to the accompanying drawings. Nevertheless, it should beunderstood that the present embodiments could be modified by thoseskilled in the art in accordance with the following description toachieve the excellent results of the present embodiments. Therefore, thefollowing description shall be considered as a pervasive and explanatorydisclosure related to the present embodiments for those skilled in theart, not intended to limit the claims of the present embodiments.

Citation of “a specific embodiment” or a similar expression in thespecification means that specific features, structures, orcharacteristics described in the specific embodiment are included in atleast one specific embodiment of the present embodiments. Hence, thewording “in a specific embodiment” or a similar expression in thisspecification does not necessarily refer to the same specificembodiment.

Reference throughout this specification to features, advantages, orsimilar language does not imply that all of the features and advantagesthat may be realized with the present embodiments should be or are inany single embodiment of the embodiments. Rather, language referring tothe features and advantages is understood to mean that a specificfeature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with anembodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the presentembodiments. Thus, discussion of the features and advantages, andsimilar language, throughout this specification may, but do notnecessarily, refer to the same embodiment.

Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics ofthe embodiments may be combined in any suitable manner in one or moreembodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that theembodiments may be practiced without one or more of the specificfeatures or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances,additional features and advantages may be recognized in certainembodiments that may not be present in all embodiments.

The following description and the appended claims further illustrate thefeatures and advantages of the present embodiments.

[Structure of the Power Distribution Unit]

Referring to FIG. 1, a schematic diagram of a power distribution unit(200) is provided according to an embodiment. The power distributionunit (200) includes a base (210), at least a socket (220) (a pluralityof sockets (220) are shown in FIG. 1), at least one detecting unit (230)(a plurality of detecting units (230) are shown in FIG. 1), an OR gate(240), a management unit (250) and an external cable (not shown). Eachof the sockets (220) is disposed at the base (210) and includes at leastone power end (222) (two power ends (222) are usually included but onlyone is schematically illustrated in FIG. 1) and a ground end (224).

In an embodiment, the power end (222) of each of the sockets (220) mayinclude a power jack (222 a) and a power elastic piece (222 b) locatednear the power jack (222 a). The ground end (224) of each of the sockets(220) may include a ground jack (224 a) and a ground elastic piece (224b) located near the ground jack (224 a). In addition, a plug (20) of anexternal electronic device (e.g. a server such as IBM's System X, BladeCenter or eServer, but not shown) is adapted to be disposed at one ofthe sockets (220). The plug (20) of the external electronic device mayinclude at least one power end (22) (two power ends (22) are usuallyincluded but only one is schematically illustrated in FIG. 1) and aground end (24). In an embodiment, the power end (22) and the ground end(24) of the plug (20) may be pins, respectively.

The detecting units (230) are disposed at the base (210) andrespectively correspond to the sockets (220). In the present embodiment,each of the detecting units (230) includes an inverter (232), an ANDgate (234), a first switch (236) and a second switch (238). In each ofthe detecting units (230), the inverter (232) includes an input end (232a) and an output end (232 b). The AND gate (234) includes two input ends(234 a) and an output end (234 b). The first switch (236) includes afirst end (236 a), a second end (236 b) and an insulating elastomer (236c), and the second switch (238) includes a first end (238 a), a secondend (238 b) and an insulating elastomer (238 c). When the powerdistribution unit (200) is in the initial state, that is, all sockets(220) are not inserted with any plugs, both the first switch (236) andthe second switch (238) are open.

In each of the detecting units (230), one of the input ends (234 a) ofthe AND gate (234) is electrically connected to the output end (232 b)of the inverter (232), and the first end (236 a) of the first switch(236) is electrically connected to the input end (232 a) of the inverter(232). In each of the detecting units (230), the first end (236 a) ofthe first switch (236) and the input end (232 a) of the inverter (232)are together electrically connected to a preset power V1, and the secondend (236 b) of the first switch (236) is grounded. The first switch(236) of each of the detecting units (230) corresponds to the power end(222) of one of the sockets (220).

In each of the detecting units (230), the first end (238 a) of thesecond switch (238) is electrically connected to another of the inputends (234 a) of the AND gate (234). In each of the detecting units(230), the first end (238 a) of the second switch (238) and the otherinput end (234 a) of the AND gate (234) are together electricallyconnected to a preset power V1, and the second end (238 b) of the secondswitch (238) is grounded. The second switch (238) of each of thedetecting units (230) corresponds to the ground end (224) of one of thesockets (220).

The output end (234 b) of the AND gate (234) of each of the detectingunits (230) is electrically connected to one of a plurality of inputends (242) of the OR gate (240). An output end (244) of the OR gate(240) is electrically connected to the management unit (250). Themanagement unit (250) is used for determining whether to perform apredetermined operation according to a signal transmitted from theoutput end (244) of the OR gate (240). The predetermined operation is,for example, to generate a visual alarm message (e.g. to turn on analarm light) or an auditory alarm sound (e.g. to issue an alarm noise).The details will be described hereinafter.

In other embodiments, the number of the sockets (220) and that of thedetecting units (230) may vary. When the number of the socket (220) andthat of the detecting unit (230) is one, respectively, the OR gate (240)can be omitted and the output end (234 b) of the AND gate (234) of thedetecting unit (230) can be electrically connected to the managementunit (250) directly.

[Operation of the Power Distribution Unit]

The operation of the power distribution unit (200) will be describedhereinafter. Please refer to FIG. 1. When the power distribution unit(200) is in the initial state (i.e. no plug is inserted into any of thesockets (220)), the output ends (234 b) of the AND gates (234) of allthe detecting units (230) respectively output first signals (e.g. a lowvoltage signal), and the management unit (250) does not generate avisual alarm message (or an auditory alarm sound) according to a signaltransmitted from the output end (244) of the OR gate (240). In oneembodiment, the aspect of not generating an alarm message is alsoreferred to as deterring the generation of the alarm message.

Referring to FIG. 2, which is a schematic diagram showing the sockets ofthe power distribution unit where the plugs are inserted according to anembodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the plugs (20) and (20′) arerespectively inserted into the sockets (220) of the power distributionunit (200). The power end (22) and the ground end (24) of the plug (20)are respectively electrically connected to the power end (222) and theground end (224) of the corresponding socket (220) such that both thefirst switch (236) and second switch (238) of the correspondingdetecting unit (230) are short. Accordingly, the output end (234 b) ofthe AND gate (234) of the corresponding detecting unit (230) outputs afirst signal (e.g. a low voltage signal).

It should be noted here that, in the present embodiment, when the powerend (220 and the ground end (24) of the plug (20) are respectivelyinserted into the power jack (222 a) and ground jack (224 a) of thecorresponding socket (220), the power end (22) and the ground end (24)of the plug (20) respectively press and are electrically connected tothe corresponding power elastic piece (222 b) and the correspondingground elastic piece (224 b). At this time, the corresponding powerelastic piece (222 b) and the corresponding ground elastic piece (224 b)are electrically connected to a power line and a ground line of anexternal cable (not shown) respectively, and press the insulatingelastomer (236 c) of the corresponding first switch (236) and theinsulating elastomer (238 c) of the corresponding second switch (238),respectively such that the two ends (236 a) and (236 b) of thecorresponding first switch (236) (see FIG. 1) are electricallyconductive and the two ends (238 a) and (238 b) of the correspondingsecond switch (238) (see FIG. 1) are electrically conductive.

Referring to FIG. 2 again. The power end (22′) of the plug (20′) iselectrically connected to the power end (222) of the correspondingsocket (220) such that the corresponding first switch (236) is short.However, the plug (20′) is not electrically connected to the ground end(224) of the corresponding socket (220) such that the correspondingsecond switch (238) is still open. Accordingly, the output end (234 b)of the AND gate (234) of the corresponding detecting unit (230) outputsa second signal (that is, an alarm signal, e.g. a high voltage signal).

Based on the above mentioned, since one of the detecting units (230)corresponding to the sockets (220) outputs the alarm signal to the ORgate (240) and the output end (244) of the OR gate (240) then transmitsthe alarm signal to the management unit (250), the management unit (250)performs a predetermined operation in response to the alarm signal. Thepredetermined operation is, for example, to generate a visual alarmmessage (e.g. to turn on an alarm light) or an auditory alarm sound(e.g. to issue an alarm noise) to alert the user.

Based on the aforementioned, in the case that a plug is inserted intothe power distribution unit (200) in the present embodiment, as long asthe power end (222) of the corresponding socket (220) is electricallyconnected to the plug but the ground end (224) of the correspondingsocket (220) is not electrically connected to the plug, the managementunit (250) of the power distribution unit (200) generates a visual alarmmessage (e.g. turns on an alarm light) or an auditory alarm sound (e.g.issues an alarm noise) to alert the user. In addition, in the case thatin the present embodiment no plug is inserted into the powerdistribution unit (200) or the inserted plug is electrically connectedto both the power end (222) and the ground end (224) of thecorresponding socket (220), the management unit (250) does not generatethe aforementioned alarm message or alarm sound.

[An Alarm Method Applied in the Power Distribution Unit]

An alarm method applied in the power distribution unit (200) isdescribed hereinafter. FIG. 3 is a flowchart (300) illustrating thealarm method applied in the power distribution unit according to anembodiment. Please refer to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3. The alarm method appliedin the power distribution unit according to an embodiment of the presentembodiments includes the following steps. First, Step (302) isperformed. The electrical connection between a plug and the power end(222) of the corresponding socket (220) of the power distribution unit(200) is determined. Then, if the plug is electrically connected to thepower end (222) of the corresponding socket (220), Step (304) isperformed, i.e. the electrical connection between the plug and theground end (224) of the corresponding socket (220) is determined. Next,if the plug is not electrically connected to the ground end (224) of thecorresponding socket (220), Step (306) is performed, i.e. thecorresponding detecting unit (230) generates an alarm signal, followedby Step (308) wherein the management unit (250) performs a predeterminedoperation in response to the alarm signal. The predetermined operationis, for example, to generate a visual alarm signal (e.g. to turn on analarm light) or an auditory alarm sound (e.g. to issue an alarm noise)to alert the user. If at step (304), it is determined that the plug iselectrically connected to a ground end of the socket, the detecting unitdoes not generate any alarming signal(s) (310).

In the present embodiment, if the plug is not electrically connected tothe power end (222) of any socket (220) (e.g. the power distributionunit 200 is in the initial state as shown in FIG. 1), all the detectingunits (230) do not generate any alarm signals. If the plug iselectrically connected to the ground end (224) of the correspondingsocket (220), the corresponding detecting unit (230) does not generatean alarm signal.

The present embodiment(s) has one of the following advantages or anotheradvantage. In the case that a plug is inserted into the powerdistribution unit in an embodiment of the present embodiments, as longas the power end of the corresponding socket is electrically connectedto the plug but the ground end of the corresponding socket is notelectrically connected to the plug, the corresponding detecting unitoutputs an alarm signal. In response to the alarm signal, the managementunit of the power distribution unit generates a visual alarm message oran auditory alarm sound to alert the user.

In addition, in the case that in an embodiment no plug is inserted intothe power distribution unit or the inserted plug is electricallyconnected to both the power end and the ground end of the correspondingsocket, all the detecting units do not output any alarm signals. Themanagement unit does not generate any alarm message or alarm sound.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, the presentembodiments may be embodied as a computer system, a method or a computerprogram product. Accordingly, the present embodiments may take the formof an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment(including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or anembodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may allgenerally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.”Furthermore, the present embodiments may take the form of a computerprogram product embodied in any tangible medium of expression havingcomputer-usable program code embodied in the medium.

Any combination of one or more computer usable or computer readablemedium(s) may be utilized. The computer-usable or computer-readablemedium may be, for example but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic,optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus,device, or propagation medium. More specific examples (a non-exhaustivelist) of the computer-readable medium would include the following: anelectrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computerdiskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory(ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flashmemory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory(CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a transmission media such as thosesupporting the Internet or an intranet, or a magnetic storage device.Note that the computer-usable or computer-readable medium could even bepaper or another suitable medium upon which the program is printed, asthe program can be electronically captured, via, for instance, opticalscanning of the paper or other medium, then compiled, interpreted, orotherwise processed in a suitable manner, if necessary, and then storedin a computer memory. In the context of this document, a computer-usableor computer-readable medium may be any medium that can contain, store,communicate, propagate, or transport the program for use by or inconnection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.The computer-usable medium may include a propagated data signal with thecomputer-usable program code embodied therewith, either in baseband oras part of a carrier wave. The computer usable program code may betransmitted using any appropriate medium, including but not limited towireless, wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, etc.

Computer program code for carrying out operations of the presentembodiments may be written in any combination of one or more programminglanguages, including an object oriented programming language such asJava, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional procedural programminglanguages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programminglanguages. The program code may execute entirely on the user's computer,partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partlyon the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely onthe remote computer or server.

The present embodiments are described below with reference to flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems) andcomputer program products. It will be understood that each block of theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations ofblocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can beimplemented by computer program instructions. These computer programinstructions may be provided to a processor of a general purposecomputer, special purpose computer, or other programmable dataprocessing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions,which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmabledata processing apparatus, create means for implementing thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in acomputer-readable medium that can direct a computer or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readablemedium produce an article of manufacture including instruction meanswhich implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer orother programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series ofoperational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmableapparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that theinstructions which execute on the computer or other programmableapparatus provide processes for implementing the functions/actsspecified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

The foregoing detailed description of the embodiments is used to furtherclearly describe the features and spirit of the present embodiments. Theforegoing description for each embodiment is not intended to limit thescope of the present embodiments. All kinds of modifications made to theforegoing embodiments and equivalent arrangements should fall within theprotected scope of the present embodiments. Hence, the scope of thepresent embodiments should be explained most widely according to theclaims described thereafter in connection with the detailed description,and should cover all the possibly equivalent variations and equivalentarrangements.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method applied in a power distribution unit,the method comprising: determining an electrical connection between aplug disposed at a socket of the power distribution unit and a power endof the socket; determining the electrical connection between the plugand a ground end of the socket if the plug is electrically connected tothe power end of the socket; generating a first voltage signal based ona condition selected from the group consisting of: the plug beingconnected to both the power end and ground end of the socket and theplug being electrically disconnected from the power end of the socket;generating a second voltage signal if the plug is electricallydisconnected to the ground end of the socket and is connected to thepower end of the socket; and performing a predetermined operation inresponse to generation of one of the first and second voltage signals.2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: deterring the secondvoltage signal if the plug is not electrically connected to the powerend of the socket.
 3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:deterring the second voltage signal if the plug is electricallyconnected to the ground end of the socket.
 4. The method of claim 1,wherein the predetermined operation is to generate a communicationselected from the group consisting of: a visual alarm message and anauditory alarm sound.
 5. The method of claim 2, further comprisingconfiguring a plurality of sockets and an OR gate in communication withthe sockets, and in response to the OR gate receiving the second voltagesignal, performing the predetermined operation.
 6. The method of claim1, further comprising: configuring an AND gate in communication with thesocket and an inverter; sensing, by the AND gate, the plug beingelectrically disconnected to the ground end of the socket and connectedto the power end of the socket; and the AND gate outputting the secondvoltage signal.
 7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:configuring a first switch having a first and second end including;positioning the first switch proximal to the power end of the socket;configuring the second end of the first switch in communication with aground; configuring the first end of the first switch in communicationwith an input of the inverter and a preset power; and configuring thefirst switch to be short in response to the plug being electricallyconnected to the power end of the socket.
 8. The method of claim 7,further comprising: configuring a second switch having a first andsecond end including; positioning the second switch proximal to theground end of the socket; configuring the first end of the second switchin communication with an input end of the AND gate; configuring thesecond end of the second switch in communication with a ground; andconfiguring the second switch to be short in response to the plug beingelectrically connected to the ground end of the socket.
 9. The method ofclaim 5, further comprising: configuring at least one detecting unitincluding, configuring the detecting unit to be in communication withthe plurality of sockets; configuring the detecting unit incommunication with the OR gate; and determining, by the detecting unit,the plug being electrically disconnected to the ground end of the socketand connected to the power end of the socket; and outputting the secondvoltage signal.
 10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:configuring a management unit in communication with the OR gate;receiving, by the management unit, the second voltage signal from the ORgate; and performing, by the management unit, the predeterminedoperation.